Eric Gagne, Dodgers Discussing Minor-League Deal

Former Dodgers closer and 2003 NL Cy Young winner Eric Gagne is discussing a minor-league deal with his former organization, Sportsnet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith tweets. Gagne says he has interest from two other teams as well, but is focused on receiving a deal from the Dodgers. In February, Gagne appeared in Dodgers camp as a guest instructor and threw in the presence of top team executives.

The 41-year-old Gagne appeared in one game with Canada in the World Baseball Classic, striking out two and walking one over 2 1/3 scoreless innings. Gagne also briefly pitched in Canadian independent ball in both 2015 and 2016. The last time he’s pitched more than ten competitive innings in a season was 2009, though, and the last time he appeared in the big leagues was all the way back in 2008. By that point, his career had already unraveled amidst a series of injuries.

It would appear, then, that Gagne would be a longshot to return to the Majors — although, of course, it would be a great story if he did so, particularly if he returned as a Dodger. Gagne posted 161 saves with Los Angeles in eight seasons there, finishing in the top ten in Cy Young balloting three times and making three All-Star games.

Easy to forget but Gagne’s other killer pitch was a rainbow curve he could throw in the upper 60s for strikes. If he still has that pitch he won’t need the old velocity to be effective. A long shot for sure but it would be cool to see him get the chance.

I’m guessing the steroid incident and the book where he aired everyone out along with the under whelming performance left teams not wanting to take a chance. I guess new management and time heals old wounds. He’s not going to make it back to the bigs. Management seemed to value his input and ideas. This seems more like a mentor type roll where he could chase a dream one last time. It’s also probably a good faith effort in which Gagne can get back into the game beyond just playing.

He didn’t actually. He’s been pitching in the Canadian amateur league for a couple of years. He would hardly be the first to go that route back to pro ball, though few if any at his age have managed it.

I would think that if he has lost velocity on the fastball then he would have lost velocity on everything else. That would mean that his former rainbow curve at 65 is now a rainbow curve in the lower to mid 50’s.

however, isnt he coming back as a knuckleballer? or was that Brian Wilson?

I wouldn’t say that. The ability to change speeds is what makes the curve work and it doesn’t have to be a 30MPH differential. Few pitchers manage more than 20-25 between their breaking pitches and fastballs and many get by with ten. The huge differential was one of the reasons Gagne was so dominant for so long but it isn’t essential for effectiveness or hardly anybody would be effective.